The blistering midday sun beat down mercilessly on the sandy floor of the royal training arena.
Kai stood perfectly still in the absolute center of the massive, circular pit.
He had discarded his heavy black silk robes for a simple pair of loose linen trousers and bare feet.
He did not sweat a single drop despite the suffocating, oppressive desert heat baking the stones around him.
His internal freezing mana automatically cooled his skin, creating a faint, shimmering aura of mist that clung to his broad shoulders.
Zara the Unbroken stepped through the heavy iron gates of the arena a few moments later.
She was flanked by six of her most intimidating, heavily scarred desert lieutenants.
She waved them back with a casual, dismissive flick of her wrist, signaling them to wait by the shaded archways.
She walked out onto the burning sand alone, spinning twin curved scimitars effortlessly in her calloused hands.
